Photo-engraver&#39;s printing frame



March 11, 1930. w. J. ADAM PHOTO EIJGRAVBRS PRINTING FRAME Filed Nov. 2,1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 11, 1930. w, M 1,750,253

PIZOTO EIJGRAVERS PRINTING FRAME Filed Nov. 2, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Sywcmi'o:

March 11, 1930. w. J. ADAM 1,750,253

PHOTO ENGRAVERS PRINTING FRAME Filed Nov. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedMar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. ADAM, OF BROOKLYN,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO F. "WESEL MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN,NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PHOTO-ENGRAVERS PRINTING FRAMEApplication filed November The invention relates to printing apparatus,more particularly to printing frames of the vacuum type as employed byphotoengravers, lithographers and rotary gravure printers.

It has for its object to simplify the construction and operation ofthese frames and to render the same more effective. To this end, theinvention comprises a suitable open frame or base member and a movableglass plate carrying frame associated therewith and adapted to be heldin a horizontal pos1- tion, or to be moved to and held in a positionsubstantially at right angles to the said base member for exposurepurposes. The arrangement is such, furthermore, that as the glass platecarrying frame is tilted, 1t carries with it from the base member boththe sons;- tized plate and the negative from which a print is to be madeas well as a rubber mat upon which the two aforementioned plates werepreviously laid. Moreover, a novel form of mat is employed to hold thesaid sensitized plate and negative to the glass plate and whereby animproved sealing action is effected.

in the accompanying drawings, a printing frame is shown of the vacuumtype and constructed in accordance with the invention, and in whichdrawings Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the novel printing frame withnegative support in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing said negative support in elevatedposition suitable for exposure.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section thru the printing frame,taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. i is a fragmentary plan of a portion of the mat and shows also thevacuum connection thereto.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4, and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the manner ofmounting the glass plate carrying frame.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a side 2, 1926. Serial No. 145,813.

of the glass plate carrying frame and supporting brace by which it maybe maintained in upright position.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 88, Fig. 7,and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a suitable rectangular frame orbase member which is provided with feet 11 for resting or securing theprinting frame upon a table, bench or the like 12; and, for example, isof metal with open-work top to reduce weight as well as to allow for thefree movement of air between the rubber mat and the frame or base andfor the introduction of a vacuum connection as the tube or hose 13embodying a flexible portion and communicating with a motor-drivenvacuum pump 14 for providing a suitable degree of vacuum. This pump mayconveniently be carried by the base 10, if desired, thus affording acomplete unitary structure and rendering the printing apparatus portableand selfcontained. The hose 18, moreover, is brought thru the open topand extends at its frame end also thru a mat or cushion 15 of flexiblematerial. as high grade rubber or felt, and to which it is suitably seemd by nuts 16 working on the thread ed end of 1.- nipple l? in the end ofthe hose connection. The said mat is adapted to rest normally upon theopen top of the base it). and is provided also with marginal port? as 18elevated somewhat above its surface. Said marginal portions are designedto round the sensitized plate 19 upon which the print is to be made froma suitable negative 20 placed thereover in the usual nnin 'ier.Moreover, it is preferred to provide the upper surface of the mat in theform of adjacent pyramids with intermediate cross channels, as shown inFig. 42, which channels afford ducts for rapidly withdrawing the air. ashereinafter set forth, so that the mat may wrap itself about thesensitized plate and negative and insure an effective seal.

This particular mat construction and arrangement of printing members isrequired not only for the purpose of insuring and maintaining goodcontact when the vacuum applied by preventing leakage to the vacuumspace formed between the mat and a transparent glass plate 21, but alsoto maintain temporarily the mat with retained negative and sensitizedplate in position as a unit on the said glass or top plate 21. Thelatter is carried by a tiltable supporting frame 22 to which it may befixed in any suitable manner, for example, being attached along aportion of its side edges and rear edge thru the medium of a suitablecement or adhesive and becoming thereby an integral part of the saidframe 22; or, preferably, by forming said frame as a channel-shapedclamp member embracing a portion of the side and rear edges of plate 21with a strap member 23 inserted between the upper face of the plate andthe corresponding face of the frame. The latter, furthermore, isarranged to be movably attached to the base 10, for example, as by meansof a pair of hinges 21 at the rear edge of said frame and which serve,also, partly to counterbalance the weight of the frame and glass plate.Said frame may be raised or tilted, therefore, to a vertical posi tionor position substantially at right angles to the surface of the saidbase member 10.

In order to maintain it in this position which is the position forexposure of the sensitized plate and wherein the same is brought intojuxtaposition with suitable means of illumination as the lamp 25a hingedarm or brace member 26 may be pro Vided along one side, being pivotallyattached at the free ends respectively to the said tiltable portion thruits supporting frame 22 and to the base or support 10. This will insurethe retention of the frame 22 in the desired vertical position when anexposure is being effected.

In the operation of the novel printing frame in preparing a sensitizedplate for such exposure, the loading of the printIng apparatus isarranged, as shown, to be accomplished in a horizontal position, thesaid frame 22 being first tilted to the vertical position with vacuumcut off at the pump 14. The mat 15 thus remains on the open top orsurface of base 10 and does not follow the frame 22 in its swingingmovement to a vertical position and in which position it remains duringthis stage under the action of brace 26. On top of the mat, or ratherthe apices of its pyramidal upper surface, is then placed the sensitizedplate 19 and over the same the negative 20 of which a print is to bemade on said plate. Frame 22 with glass plate 21 is then returned to ahorizontal position being lowered over the mat upon which are locatedthe sensitized plate and negative. the glass plate 21 of the frame 22then contacting with the elevated marginal portions 18 of the said mat.The vacuum is next applied to the vacuum space and maintained during theprinting operation, serving to seal the said portion 18 to the glassplate 21 and to cause the negative to be pressed by the mat 15 intointimate contact with the sensitized plate, the mat collapsing aroundand wrapping itself about the same as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. Thereupon, the frame 22 is tilted again to the verticalposition and carries with it the said mat and contafned negative andsensitized plate into proper position for exposure, which isaccomplished in the usual manner, and the flexible portion of the hose13 permitting said movement. After the proper exposure has beeneffected, frame 22 is lowered and the vacuum cut 011', whereupon theframe is again raised to permit access to the exposed plate and thenegative.

It will be observed that the manipulations of loading the apparatus andof removing the finished print may be accomplished in a horizontalposition, while the printing op eration is effected in a verticalposition, thereby facilitating such operations. It will be appreciated,however, that for printing with an overhead inverted lamp, theoperations are the same except that the glass plate and mat remain in ahorizontal position for print ing. Furthermore, the apparatus mayreadily be located upon the table or bench 12 or other convenientsupport, no truck or like device of the usual type is required for itssupport, and the same affords a compact and readily operableself-contained unit.

I claim:

1. A printing frame, comprising: a stationary base with open-work top; atiltable frame hingedly secured to the base, and a plate of transparentglass carried by said tiltable frame; a flexible cushioning and sealingmember normally resting on said stationary base and adapted to receiveboth a sensitized plate and a negative from which a print is to be madethereon; and a vacuum connection thru said flexible member adapted topermit the same to follow movement of the tiltable frame relatively toits base and for temporarily causing attachment of negative andsensitized plate to the glass of the tiltable frame when the vacuum isapplied as well as to permit the tiltable frame to be swung therewithaway from said stationary base into printing position.

2. A rinting frame, comprising: a stationary ase with open-work top; atiltable frame hingedly secured to the base, and a plate of transparentglass carried by said tiltable frame; a flexible cushioning and sealingmember normally resting on said stationary base and adapted to receiveboth a sensitized plate and a negative from which a print is to be madethereon; and a flexible vacuum connection thru said flexible memberadapted to permit the same to follow movement of the tiltable framerelatively to its base and for temporarily causing attachment of themember with negative and sensitized plate to the glass of the tiltableframe when the vacuum is applied as well as to permit the tiltable frameto be swung therewith away from said stationary base into printingposition.

3. A printing frame, comprising: a stationary base; a tiltable framehingedly secured to the base, and a plate of transparent glass carriedby said tiltable frame;'a flexible cushioning and sealing member normally resting on said stationary base and adapted to receive both asensitized plate and a negative from which a print is to be madethereon, said flexible member having raised marginal portions to contactwith the transparent glass plate of the tiltable frame; and a vacuumconnection thru said flexible member adapted to permit the same tofollow movement of the tiltable frame relatively to its base and fortemporarily causing attachment of the member with negative andsensitized plate to the glass of the tiltable frame when the vacuum isapplied as well as to permit the tiltable frame to be swung therewithaway from said stationary base into printing position.

4. A printing frame, comprising: a stationary base; a tiltable framehingedly secured to the base, and a plate of transparent glass carriedby said tiltable frame, and means to support the glass plate carryingframe in tilted position; a flexible cushioning and sealing membernormally resting on said stationary base and adapted to receive both asensitized plate and a negative from which a print is to be madethereon; and a vacuum connection thru said flexible member adapted topermit the same to follow movement of the tiltable frame relatively toits base and for temporarily causing attachment of the member withnegative and sensitized plate to the glass of the tiltable frame whenthe vacuum is applied as well as to permit the tiltable frame to beswung therewith away from said stationary base into printing position.

5. A printing frame, comprising: a stationary base; a tiltable framehingedlysecured to the base, and a plate of transparent glass carried bysaid tiltable frame, and a hinged brace along one side of the glassplate carrying frame and pivotally attached there to and to the saidbase; a flexible cushioning and sealing member normally resting on saidstationary base, and adapted to receive both a sensitized plate and anegative from which a print is to be made thereon; and a vacuumconnection thru said flexible member adapt ed to permit the same tofollow movement of the tiltable frame relatively to its base and fortemporarily causing attachment of the member with negative andsensitized plate to the glass of the tiltable frame when the vacuum isapplied as well as to permit the tiltable frame to be swung therewithaway from said stationary base into printing position.

6. A printing frame, comprising: a stationary base; a channel-shapedframe memher, a plate of transparent glass over a portion of the sideand rear edges of which said frame member fits, an intermediate. strapmember for securely holding said plate to said frame member, hingesconnecting the frame member to the base, and a pivoted brace having itsfree ends connected respectively to the said frame member and to thesaid base; a flexible cushioning and sealing member normally resting onsaid stationary base, and adapted to receive both a sensitized plate anda negative from which a print is to be made thereon; and a vacuumconnection thru said flexible member adapted to permit the same tofollow movement of the tiltable frame relatively to its base and foremporarily causing attachment of the memher with negative and sensitizedplate to the glass of the tiltable frame when the vacuum is applied aswell as to permit the tiltable frame to be swung therewith away fromsaid stationary base into printing position.

7. In a printing frame: the combination with a base; of a supportingframe, a flexible mat with smooth resilient edges, and a glass topcarried by the supporting frame and cooperating with the said edges toform a vacuum seal, means for applying vacuum in the space between thesaid glass top and the mat to cause the same to adhere to each other sothat said top may be raised from the base with or without the flexiblemat, and means to maintain the top in elevated position for printing.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM J. ADAM.

